Meta is shifting its metaverse ambitions from virtual reality to eyewear, preparing to unveil “Hypernova,” its most advanced AI-enabled smart glasses, at this week’s Connect conference. The device, expected to cost about $800 and feature a small display controlled via a neural wristband, extends Meta’s partnership with EssilorLuxottica following stronger-than-expected demand for Ray-Ban Meta glasses. The pivot comes as Reality Labs posted a $4.53 billion operating loss in the second quarter and nearly $70 billion in cumulative losses since late 2020, pressuring management to show a credible path to returns. Analysts say glasses could prove a more mass-market on-ramp than VR headsets, but warn Meta must catalyze a developer ecosystem and overcome price sensitivity. The move also sets up a broader race with Apple and Google, which are pursuing their own wearable initiatives, including Google’s partnership with Warby Parker. A recent $14.3 billion Meta investment in Scale AI underscores the company’s bet that on-device AI will be a key differentiator for wearables.
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